Full Bloom / Alicent Hightower x OC Male

7. Exquisite

Favorite Ex / Ted Lasso out now!

"I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"That I will not be able to love her." Gwayne admitted.

"Love is not a thing one is able or not able to do based on some magic. Some chemistry." Ottomcorrected  "That is for plays." Gwayne looked to alicent as she fixed her dress for the wedding. "Love is determination.  Love is a choice one makes. You take someone in marriage, and you choose to love them. You do not give yourself any other option. Because marriage is difficult. Full of pains. And the life of a second bornlord... is lonely." Otto assured him. When his own wife died, he was left, trying to build himself back up again. Find purpose when his brother was named head of household. When his effortlessly got old town.

"So you grab someone, and you hang on. You love, and you love hard because if you do not... you are lost." like he felt after his wife died.

" so what father is saying walked down that damn aisle you don't have a choice. Just like the rest of us."

Alicent tensed at her elder brothers words of not encouragement.

That was all they were to their father pawns to be moved about the board. When her time came, she would be treated the same.

She glanced Miguel as he tended himself with centerpieces she stared at him shamelessly as no one was focused on her, and everyone was focused on the blushing bride who was less blushing and more terrified to getting married to a stranger.

So she looked at Miguel, for he held her heart.

She could almost pretend that this was their wedding that her brother wasn't being dragged down the aisle. At least he got the decency of having a beautiful bride. She assumed when her time came she would be married off to an old fat Lord, who would treat her like a broodmare .

" it was a lovely ceremony."

" the flowers were exquisite." Alicent countered.

"Your dress is exquisite." Miguel countered. She touched the bodice of her dress. It was her mothers dress that she had hemmed up to fit her shorter frame.

"You are exquisite." He added touching her hair. She blushed eyes fluttering with his touch. " do you find yourself tired at all? Needing for some fresh air..." miguel pondered.

" I think that would be so wonderful." Alicent agreed. He grabbed her hand leading her through the halls trying to find his way through the maze to get back outside to the courtyard.

"All is well."

"He has dismissed his maester."

"He has a new maester." Aemma assured. "As do I. A better one."

"Oh. That is good. What is his name?" Aemmas lips twisted.

"I do not remember names. I am female." She decided.  Miguel pulled her to a stop.

"Of course. Apologies."

"All is well." Aemma assured wanting to get to her bath.

"So says the king?"

"He is the king." Aemma agreed. Miguel looked to Alicent curiously.

"A meeting without the king?" Miguel questioned.

"You have laid eyes on him?"

"Spoken to him?"

"I am his wife." Aemma agreed.

"I do not speak to my wife...."

"Nor I to mine."

"Dreadful woman."

Aemma rolled her eyes.

"Who are these men?" Miguel questioned.

"Men worried about the future of the realms no doubt." Alicent answered

"Maybe she needs an interruption." Miguel suggested. "She sounds bored and annoyed."

"All is well. He is the king." She assured

"What of the future arrival?"

"The baby? The baby is well." Aemma agreed she was almost to term and all was well. Well as well could be.  "All is well." She agreed.

"Then it is settled. I will let the realms know he is available for an address."

"excuse me... your grace?" Alicent called out. "My brothers wedding feast had begun and i was-" aemma pulled open the door. "We havd lots of cake i hoped you might join us."

"Sounds wonderful." Aemma agreed glancing back at the men before marching out. "Thank you lady Alicent and... herbalist extraordinaire." Miguel chuckled. " just a gardener... huh?" Alicent blushed wishing to disappear. How did she know? A mothers magic she supposed.